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Why School Furniture is
Critical to Learning
Outcomes
Nichole Moser
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Learning is IMPORTANT
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Noun:
1.
The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience,
practice, or study, or by being taught.
2.
Knowledge acquired in this way.
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True learning affects achievement – true learning affects
future – true learning affects success
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Key factors affecting learning:
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Resources – community, school
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Attitude towards education and learning
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Home environment
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Personality
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Teacher and pedagogies
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Education facilities
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Mr. Maslow says…
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Assure the foundation…
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Physiological state must be addressed – primary need
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Ones physical state – fed, hydrated, rested,
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This includes being physically comfortable and free of pain
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What factors can schools affect?
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Resources and learning environments
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Curriculum
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Comfort
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Security
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What factors can facilities affect?
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How can facilities folks contribute to positive learning
outcomes?
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Appropriate learning environments – engaging, allowing for
multiple pedagogies, readily available resources, etc
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Comfortable/pain free experience – ergonomics and
movement supported
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Furniture is key
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Problem with the one armed
bandits…
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Hard, static seat prohibit movement of the user
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Seat and back create points in the body that inhibit blood
flow and circulation
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Inherently difficult to move
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These “issues” apply to many currently employed furniture
“solutions” in the classroom
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Additional concern
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QUALITY!
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Quality affects:
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User experience
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Mobility of the product
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Ongoing function of the product
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Asset versus liability – Budget!...you save $ with quality products
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Audience participation…
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Just a little exercise for everyone…
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Stick one arm straight out from your shoulder to the side –
and hold it steady there for 2 minutes
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Ask yourself “How does it feel?” – sore, fatigued
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Now stick your other arm out to the side but continuously
bend and the straighten it at the elbow to keep your arm
moving – do this for 2 minutes
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Ask yourself “How does it feel?”
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That’s the beauty of movement
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Movement and Learning
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Say hello to the Cerebellum…
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Cerebellum – not just for
movement …
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The last place in the cerebellum where information is
processed before entering the cortex – the Denate Nucleus –
is actually missing in most primates…only those that have
demonstrated the highest learning capabilities possess
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Denate nucleus is required for the cerebellum to
communicate with any part of the body – including the parts
of the brain that compose and conceive coherent and
creative thought – ventral side is responsible for higher
cerebellar function
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Processes movement and processes learning
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Movement and blood flow
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Movement and brain function are further correlated when
one considers blood flow.
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Blood flow is paramount to the “life” and function of all
organs – including the brain
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Movement = increased blood flow = more oxygen to the
brain
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Additional considerations
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Movement triggers the body to release more brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – which is a natural substance
which boosts the ability of neurons to communicate with one
another
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Movement allows the body to properly manage stress –
ongoing stress has been linked to cognitive function and
dysfunction onset for decades
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Movement applies not just to
bodies
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Movement empowers learning
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Physical environments that plan and allow for movement and
mobility of the furniture empower learning
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Furniture that is easily moved allows for a classroom to serve
multiple teaching and learning styles
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Teaching and learning styles that are shown to increase
learning retention
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Furniture layout
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Lecture – traditional style
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Instructor lead small groups
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Group work & discussion
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Multiple posture support
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Maximize floor space
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So why aren’t we?
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Don’t believe there is a link to learning
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Product not available
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Cost
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Cost
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Maybe should be budget discussion – not cost
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The true cost versus benefit is full of tangible and intangible
elements
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The intangible – what if we don’t support the learning of the
child who could have cured cancer? solved for renewable
energy source? negotiated world peace? started the
business that would have hired your children or
grandchildren? … paid the taxes that will pay for your CPP
and ongoing healthcare costs?
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Lets talk tangibles
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Price versus price – your budgets and purchasing should
consider MUCH more than simply price…
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Tangible costs that need to be considered:
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Price
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Quality/durability and therefore repair costs & future prices
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Waste – environmental and handling costs
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Liability
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Cost of acquisition – labour and time
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Ask yourself this
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How many folks are involved in making a purchase within
your organization?
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Who are they?
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How much does those individuals earn per hour?
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How many hours and days does it take to complete the
purchase process?
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Average Salaries
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Buyer $54,339, Purchaser $48,590, Senior Buyer $63,094,
Junior Buyer $39,152
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School Custodian: $30,847
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Facilities Operator: $41,451
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Facilities Manager: $63,552
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Accounting Clerk: $32,938
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School Principal: $77,632
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Director within school board: $82,628
Salaries as of 1/23/2013 in CAD – reference: http://www.wowjobs.ca/
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Purchase process
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How do you know you need “product a”?
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How do you know that “product a” exists and is the right
product?
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How do you know if its better or the same as “b”, “c”, etc
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How do you know when to purchase?
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How do you know who sells “product a”?
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How do you notify sellers? …
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Everything considered
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Furniture is indeed critical to positive learning outcomes
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We can only control certain aspects of a child’s learning in
the positions we are in and we are all committed to doing
what we can to best support and improve those outcomes
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Furniture is a big piece of the what you can control
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Furniture is a key component
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Furniture physically interacts with the student – you need to
support movement and circulation to positively impact a
students ability to maintain concentration, and actively
engage their minds into the lesson
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Further, furniture that is mobile is needed to allow for
multiple learning styles to be easily transitioned into and out
of to engage the student and allow for greater retention
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All factors of cost need to be considered – not just price –
when determining what we can do to help students succeed
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Benefits all of us – job well done today, future better
supported for us and the employers/employees of tomorrow
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Furniture is a key component
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Allow their bodies to move – allows them to learn
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Allow the furniture to move – allows them to remember what
they learn
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An engaged learner will be more successful in the classroom
and in life
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Questions?
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Discussion…
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Thank you for participating